Aleppo ceasefire at risk after Russia says rebels can be eliminated

The prospects of an extended humanitarian ceasefire in eastern Aleppo have diminished after Russian diplomats stressed the Syrian government was entitled to eliminate all rebels in the city, and not just the 1,000 jihadi fighters linked to al-Qaida.

Russia has implemented a unilateral four-day ceasefire to allow humanitarian access, evacuation for the wounded and the safe passage of 1,000 Jabhat Fateh al-Sham fighters, the rebel group formerly known as al-Nusra, out of the besieged city.